She was accepted for fall 2024 but made the difficult decision to take a year off. Jaqueline interned at SCF Architecture and BDA Architects during this gap year to build her resume and skills. The latter firm specializes in healthcare design, which allowed her to discover her interest in this area.
When the time came to reapply to Jefferson, Jaqueline heard about the Bicentennial Scholarship. The special merit-based program tied to the University’s 200th anniversary year offered 12 full‑tuition scholarships and 200 half‑tuition scholarships to incoming students across various programs.
The contest entailed her creating a three-minute video based on the prompt, “How Architects Improve Lives.” In her video, “The Architecture of Healing,” Jaqueline drew on her experience as an LVHN nursing unit clerk by discussing how architectural design could improve patient care, staff productivity and job satisfaction.
“When I’m on the units, I get to observe how all the healthcare providers, patients and visitors use these spaces,” Jaqueline explains.
Now, with the school year almost here, Missy knows the best is yet to come.
“My whole life is going to change,” she says, adding with a laugh about Jaqueline’s excitement. “She tells me every five minutes, ‘Mom, I’m going to Jefferson.’”